Vengeance ttr-1

by Ian Irvine

  She set off, and every stride was like having the soles of her feet beaten. Rix passed her, jogging, his wet boots squeaking with every stride. Tobry laboured along beside her.

  ‘Are you better?’ she said.

  ‘It’s been a while since I’ve had a day like this.’

  ‘Did you get the scars on your chest in battle?’

  Tobry shook his head. ‘There hasn’t been war in many lifetimes …’ He did not speak for a while. ‘I didn’t get those scars respectably.’

  ‘I don’t understand,’ said Tali.

  ‘A woman’s husband challenged me to a duel of honour. His honour, not mine, if you take my meaning.’

  More than a little shocked, she mulled it over as she ran. Such things were unheard of in Cython. When the men came back for their monthly visits, many were too exhausted to service their own wives. An especially vigorous man could be called upon to honour the wife of an incapable friend, but that was by mutual consent. Clearly, things were different in Hightspall.

  She looked sideways at Tobry. He was half a head shorter than Rix, wiry rather than muscular and no one would have called him handsome, yet in Cython he would have been a rare prize. Moreover, she felt safe with him, as she had never felt safe since her mother was murdered.

  ‘I think you are honourable,’ she said.

  ‘How little you know me. My noble house has fallen, not unrelated to a terrible choice I had to make as a lad. Now I’m forced to rely on the kindness of my friends. I believe in nothing save the here and now, and I think the whole universe is a joke. So there.’

  ‘You’re brave and kind,’ she panted. ‘You gave me the last coins you had. You risked your life for me.’

  ‘They’re gaining fast,’ said Tobry.

  They had crossed half the distance now. Even if they made it to the peaks, three could not fight nine when Rix was the only one armed.

  The peaks were shaped like cones and only a few hundred feet high. Tali could see four of them and thought there might be others beyond.

  ‘Those mountains are oddly neat,’ she said.

  ‘Cinder cones,’ said Tobry. ‘Baby volcanoes.’

  ‘Do you think there could be caves there? Or anywhere we can hide?’

  ‘No. They’re just steep piles of broken rock, and dry as bones.’

  Rix reached the face of the nearest cinder cone, climbed twenty feet then turned to look out over the plain. Tali scrambled up to him, wincing. It was hard climbing, the surface being loose rock which slipped underfoot.

  ‘How are you doing?’ Rix said pointedly.

  She wasn’t giving anything away. ‘In Cython we learn — ’

  ‘To endure pain. I’m getting sick of hearing that.’

  ‘Sorry. My feet hurt like blazes. Everything hurts.’ It was a big admission, for her.

  He put an arm around her. ‘We’ll stand together and make them pay.’

  No, she thought, we won’t.

  CHAPTER 53

  The enemy reached the base of the cinder cone, hundreds of feet below them. Rix drew his sword, Tobry a knife. Tali picked up a stone that fitted neatly in her hand, and waited.

  ‘Come down,’ said the pock-faced captain.

  ‘Go to hell,’ shouted Rix.

  ‘Send down the slave and we’ll allow you a merciful death.’

  ‘We know all about Cythonian honour,’ Rix sneered. ‘And Cythonian treachery. That’s why the war started in the first place.’

  The captain clenched his grey fists. ‘The war started,’ he said, biting off each word and spitting it in their faces, ‘because your Five Heroes used vile sorcery to forge King Lyf’s name on a charter — ’

  ‘They made a solemn agreement with your king which gave us half your country.’

  ‘Cythe belonged to the people. No king ever had the power to give it away.’

  ‘Well, that was two thousand years ago and what’s done can’t be undone,’ said Rix. ‘Go back to the Rat Hole where you belong.’

  ‘I’m not sure it’s wise to insult them,’ Tobry murmured.

  ‘I’ve had enough of their stinking lies.’

  ‘Take them!’ ordered the Cythonian.

  The enemy had just begun to climb the slope when Tali, who was higher than Rix and Tobry, noticed a cloud of dust back the way they had come. She climbed onto a honeycombed rock as tall as she was, then up onto a cart-sized boulder. Could they be that lucky?

  ‘Tobry, riders!’

  He scrambled up beside her and stared across the raddled plain. ‘Dozens of riders, coming this way. The Cythonians don’t have horses, do they?’

  ‘They could have stolen them.’

  ‘What do you think, Rix?’ said Tobry.

  Rix shaded his eyes with his hand. ‘They’re flying our standard.’ He raised his voice. ‘You’re too late, rock rats! Run back to the Rat Hole and some of you might survive.’

  ‘Don’t taunt them, Rix,’ said Tobry.

  The enemy turned to study the galloping horsemen. ‘Our blood will nourish the motherland stolen from us,’ said the captain. ‘But before it does, cut them down.’

  The Cythonians whirled and their archers raised their bows.

  ‘Down!’ cried Tobry, throwing himself behind the boulder.

  Rix dropped flat. Tali could not get down quickly enough. A blinding pain speared through her right thigh and she was driven backwards off the boulder. Arrows were smashing against the rubble all around.

  ‘Kill the Pale!’ bellowed the captain.

  Tobry pulled Tali into cover. The Cythonians were scrambling up the steep slope and the riders were still several minutes away. She touched the arrowhead, which was protruding from the back of her thigh, and a worse pain lanced through her.

  ‘The riders won’t get here in time,’ said Rix. ‘Tobe, put your shoulder behind this.’

  Through a haze of pain she saw them heaving on the smaller boulder. They rolled it out from behind the larger one and sent it crashing and bouncing down the slope, carrying smaller rocks with it and turning into a fan-shaped landslide. A man screamed. The sound of falling rocks grew to a roar, though it soon rattled away into silence. Dust drifted up the slope.

  ‘Got two,’ Rix said with grim satisfaction. ‘And swept another four down to the bottom. Give us a hand, Tobe. Let’s see if we can tidy up the rest of them.’

  More arrows fell as they pushed another boulder, and another. ‘The survivors are turning to face the riders,’ said Tobry. ‘They can’t get to you now.’

  He crouched beside Tali. She opened her eyes but even the dull daylight made them ache.

  Tobry pulled the hat brim down. ‘How are you feeling?’

  She was hard pressed not to whimper. ‘Leg hurts.’

  ‘I’m not surprised.’ He raised his voice. ‘Rix? Get up here.’

  She heard him scrambling up the slope and smelled his sweat amidst the dust. Tobry stood up. He and Rix spoke in low voices, though not low enough.

  ‘Better pray it’s not poisoned,’ said Rix. ‘Or covered in plague pox. I wouldn’t put that past the bastards.’

  ‘Let’s just worry about the wound,’ said Tobry.

  They bent over her thigh. Tali hurt too much to be embarrassed. Rix wiggled the arrow. She gasped, but bit her tongue.

  ‘There’s not a lot of blood,’ said Rix, ‘and it’s only ebbing, so it hasn’t hit an artery.’ He reached out, then jerked his hand back. His tanned face had gone pale.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ said Tobry sharply.

  ‘What’s wrong with my blood?’ said Tali.

  ‘Take no notice,’ said Tobry. ‘Rix has nightmares about tanks of blood.’

  ‘Thanks for telling the world,’ Rix snapped. ‘Some poxes and pestilences are spread from bad blood, and it’s getting worse all the time.’

  ‘There’s nothing wrong with my blood,’ said Tali, insulted. ‘Besides, there aren’t any diseases in Cython.’

  ‘What, none?’ Tobry sat back on his heel
s.

  ‘I’ve never known anyone to be ill. Save from overwork or food poisoning.’

  Tobry felt under her thigh. ‘The head’s gone through, luckily. Hold her leg up. I’ll cut it off.’

  ‘No!’ cried Tali. ‘You’re not — ’

  ‘He’s cutting off the arrowhead, not your leg,’ said Rix gruffly.

  She felt like a fool as he raised her leg. Tobry sawed at the tough shaft. It took ages and every movement sent shudders of pain through her.

  ‘There,’ he said. ‘Pull it out.’

  Rix lowered her leg to the rubble. Tobry took her hands in his. ‘This is going to hurt.’

  ‘Just do it,’ she said. ‘In Cython we learn to endure — ’

  ‘We know!’ Tobry and Rix said in a chorus.

  As Rix pulled on the shaft, agony echoed along nerve endings down as far as her toes, as high as the middle of her back. She squeezed Tobry’s hand so hard that he winced. Tali arched her back, clenched her toes, then the shaft came free and the pain died to a series of sharp throbs, each one matched to a heartbeat.

  Rix pressed a big thumb against the wound. ‘Don’t think it’s done too much damage, though it’ll scar.’

  Tali took his hand away, pressed her palm against the entry wound and murmured her healing charm. Warmth extended along the arrow line but the pain did not diminish. Her healing gift was drained, which was not surprising. She had used it more in the past few days than in her previous life. And even at full strength, treating such a deep wound would have taxed her.

  ‘But I’ll still be able to walk?’

  ‘When it’s healed. In a week or two.’

  She groaned and lay back. Rix rose. ‘I’m going to check on the enemy.’

  He crunched away. Tobry tore a strip off his shirt and bound it several times around her thigh. That hurt too. Tali closed her eyes and drifted.

  In the distance she heard battle cries, the clash of steel weapons, the screams of men dying brutal deaths.

  Tobry stroked her brow. ‘Don’t look now.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘The riders have surrounded the enemy. It’s going to be rather unpleasant.’

  Tali drifted again, not knowing whether minutes were passing, or hours.

  ‘Shit!’ said Rix, from below.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ said Tobry.

  ‘That’s Seneschal Parby. What the hell is he doing here?’

  ‘Lady Ricinus must have sent him to find you and drag you back by the — ’

  ‘He’s got a telescope. He’s seen me. I’ll have to go.’

  ‘Yes, Tali needs a good healer.’

  ‘We can’t take her to the palace!’ cried Rix. ‘You know what Lady Ricinus is like.’

  Tali’s eyes shot open. What manner of a woman was his mother, to drive a brave man to such panic?

  ‘Not going to any palace,’ she said limply. ‘Going after Rannilt.’

  ‘No, you’re not,’ said Tobry. ‘Rix, if that wound gets infected, Tali will die.’

  ‘I know.’ Rix crunched back and forth across the slope, scattering rubble like confetti. ‘She needs the best healer there is. Where can we send her that’s safe?’

  ‘I thought the Cythonians were dead,’ said Tali, clutching at Tobry’s wrist.

  ‘They are. But you’re not safe from our allies.’

  CHAPTER 54

  Parby’s commanding voice echoed up the slope. ‘Lord Rixium?’

  ‘Go!’ hissed Tobry. ‘They mustn’t see her.’

  ‘Why not?’ said Tali. ‘What’s going on?’

  Rix stood up. ‘Seneschal Parby! Thank you — ’

  ‘Lady Ricinus sends her compliments,’ boomed Parby, ‘and bids you to return home immediately.’

  Rix bowed from the waist. ‘And I come running, like a cringing lapdog,’ he said in an aside. ‘Tobe, think of something — ’

  Tali could scarcely credit the change in Rix. He looked like a naughty boy who had been caught out and was about to be punished.

  ‘I’ll fix it,’ sighed Tobry. ‘Get me a horse — ’

  ‘What about Rannilt?’ said Tali.

  He took her hand. ‘Do you think I’d forget her? Rix, tell Parby I’ve got urgent business elsewhere. We’re going back.’

  ‘That’s bloody dangerous — but of course …’

  ‘I know,’ said Tobry.

  Rix clasped his arm. ‘You can’t go unarmed.’

  ‘I’ll collect a blade from the dead. There are plenty to choose from.’

  ‘No.’ Impulsively, Rix unbuckled his sheath and held it out. ‘Take mine.’

  ‘You sure?’

  ‘Its enchantment saved us the other day.’

  ‘Thanks,’ said Tobry, buckling it on. ‘It might help with Rannilt’s shadow and shape, too.’

  ‘Lord Rixium?’ the seneschal called, curtly.

  ‘I’m coming!’ Rix turned down the slope, turned back. ‘Where will you take her, Tobe?’

  ‘To Abbess Hildy.’

  ‘Hildy doesn’t love House Ricinus.’

  ‘She’s not fond of me, either, but she’s the best healer I know.’

  ‘I know how to soothe her ruffled feelings.’ Rix handed him a small leather bag.

  Tobry pocketed it. ‘Tali, if I come up straight away, Parby will be suspicious. I’ll ride a little way with Rix and double back.’

  Don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me here all alone.

  She lay in the shadow of the boulder, listening as they scrambled down to the plain and rode away. Time drifted in a haze of pain, her helplessness magnifying every fear tenfold. What if he didn’t come back? The bodies would attract predators from all directions and they would soon sniff her out. What if Tobry encountered more Cythonians? Or they came up to investigate?

  A horse approached; footsteps crunched up the slope.

  ‘Tobry?’ she croaked.

  ‘It’s me, Tali. It’s just me.’

  Then he was beside her, lifting her in his arms, and she clung to him like a lost lover, all reserve gone. She closed her eyes. She was safe; she could leave it to him now …

  The next hour was torn into fragments: being lugged, Tobry slipping and sliding, down the slope; hanging head-down across a saddle, every bump and jounce sending pulses of agony through her thigh; Tobry helping her drink from his cupped hand, the water having a mouth-puckering bitterness that left a residue on her teeth; night falling and him riding on, now holding her against his chest; the elbrot flaring. He seemed to be finding his way with a magery that sensed the firmness of the ground ahead, or perhaps the heat of it. Then, finally, sleep. Blessed oblivion.

  The call, more urgent and strident than ever, shocked her awake. She snapped the shell closed, trembling. It was still dark, the endless hunt still went on and her hunter was closer than before. Much closer.

  ‘Tobry,’ she whispered, ‘I’m afraid.’

  ‘It’s all right,’ he said softly.

  ‘He’s out there, tracking me.’

  ‘There’s no one behind us.’

  ‘You don’t understand.’ She twisted around in the saddle. ‘Mama said he’s never seen, never heard, but he flutters in my nightmares like a foul wrythen.’

  Tobry stiffened and reined in. ‘What did you say?’

  ‘The people who killed my mother aren’t my worst enemies, and neither is Tinyhead. My real enemy is his master — ’

  ‘You told me that before. Why did you call him a wrythen?’

  ‘My mother said it, though I never thought she meant a real wrythen.’

  Tobry’s eyes were darting. ‘Tell me about him.’

  ‘Since the night I came of age, I’ve been hearing an angry little note in my head. I think of it as the call because it feels like one, and I’m sure he’s tracking me by it. Sometimes I hear a higher, distant note that feels like a reply.’ She explained about closing the call off with her mental shell.

  Tobry said nothing, though she could tell that he was disturbed
.

  ‘Why does a wrythen bother you so much?’ said Tali.

  ‘We were nearly killed by one in the mountains a few days ago.’ He briefly related their encounter with the caitsthe and the wrythen, and what they had seen in the lower caverns. ‘Had it not been for Rix, I’d be dead by now. Or possessed by the foul creature — worse than death.’

  The cold night grew colder. The conspiracy was greater than she had thought, the danger more deadly. Was that why Rix had been watching Tobry earlier? Was Rix afraid the wrythen had possessed his friend? And had it? Was it looking out of Tobry’s eyes whenever she turned her back? She did not think so — when the wrythen had taken over Tinyhead his eyes had been yellow and almost no trace of Tinyhead had remained. Unless the wrythen could conceal his eyes when he wanted to …

  ‘I’ve been told my enemy can only be beaten by magery,’ said Tali, ‘but I can’t find mine.’ She told him about her reluctant gift, which both her mother and Mimoy had said was different.

  ‘It was certainly different when I killed Banj,’ she concluded, shivering at the memories. ‘But I had no more control than before.’

  ‘So the bursting sunstone roused your magery,’ said Tobry. ‘And woke Rannilt’s hidden gift. Curious.’

  She looked up at his craggy face and realised, for the first time, that he liked her. She hesitated — it was hard for her to ask anyone for help, but she had to.

  ‘Tobry, you know magery. Can you help me?’

  ‘Me?’ He laughed uneasily. ‘Don’t be silly.’

  Heat rose to her face. What was the matter? Didn’t he trust her with it? Or did he think of her as a child? Tali felt herself shrinking, but she had to convince him. There was no one else. ‘Why not?’

  ‘It’s not a good idea,’ he said evasively.

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘I’m … not my own man.’

  What was that supposed to mean? Or was it an excuse? ‘Tobry, he’s after me. I just heard the call again. That’s what woke me — ’

  ‘Even more reason,’ Tobry said.

  She clutched at his wrist, not realising that she was shaking it. ‘Please, I’m desperate and you’re all I’ve got.’